This spirit, carrying a living maple branch in her hand, says to the people: "Men and Women of Springfield, this carving is the Lady Springfield sent by your Lord from Heaven.

Build no canopy over her.
Let her ever be under the prairie-sky.

Do her perpetual honor." The messenger, who is the soul and voice of Springfield, fades into the crowd, to emerge on great and terrible occasions.
This is only one story.

Round this public event let the photoplay romancer weave what tales of private fortune he will, narratives bound up with the events of that October day, as the story of Nathan and Naomi is woven into Judith of Bethulia.
Henceforth the city officers are secular priests of Our Lady Springfield.
Their failure in duty is a profanation of her name.

A yearly pledge of the first voters is taken in her presence like the old Athenian oath of citizenship.